(Richmond, Va.)– The Civil War Trust, the nation’s largest nonprofit battlefield preservation organization,
today announced the newest entry in its popular Battle App series — a free, multimedia
and GPS-enabled smartphone tours of the Malvern Hill Battlefield, a unit of
Richmond National Battlefield Park, available for both iPhone and Android phones. The project was underwritten with a
grant from the Virginia Department of Transportation and created in partnership
with NeoTreks, Inc., an industry leader in mobile GPS-based touring.

“Our primary goal for these
Battle Apps is to make history come alive in whole new ways for visitors to
these hallowed grounds,” said Trust president James Lighthizer. “By using the latest in 21st-century
technology, we’re able to make exploring the past an immersive, interactive
experience that appeals to a whole new generation.”

Like its predecessors, which
explore the battles of Bull Run, Chancellorsville, Fredericksburg and
Gettysburg, the new Malvern Hill Battle App includes video segments from top
historians, period and modern imagery, and detailed topographical maps, all of
which help bring the battlefield to life — plus a wealth of resource materials
to provide valuable background information. Featuring GPS navigation, primary
source material and the commentary of respected historians, the Malvern Hill
Battle App offers the convenience of a self-guided tour with the benefits of an
expert-led presentation — and all at no cost.

This launch marks the first time that the Trust has made versions of a Battle App available for both iPhone and Android simultaneously. The Bull Run Battle App for Android was launched in December 2011 and additional titles for this platform will be added in the coming months. To date, more than 35,000 people have downloaded the Trust’s Battle Apps, offerings which have, on average earned 4-star reviews from users.

The Trust’s ongoing Battle App project is made possible through the cooperation and generous support of the Virginia Department of Transportation. As the commemoration of the 150th anniversary of the Civil War continues, VDOT has committed to underwrite a total of nine further Battle Apps to encourage residents and visitors alike to explore the Commonwealth’s outstanding historic resources.

“As we enter the second year
of the Civil War sesquicentennial, visitors are flocking to Virginia to explore
our fascinating history,” said Secretary of Transportation Sean T.
Connaughton. “The Commonwealth welcomes the opportunity to provide an
innovative means to explore our historic sites.”

Another key feature of the Battle Apps is their ability to include the entire battlefield, not just its most well-travelled paths. While some of the “virtual signs” on the App’s 15-stop tour coincide with signage erected by the National Park Service, many other stops and points of interest are off the beaten path and outside what most visitors discover independently. The app is also designed to help
visitors move beyond the battlefield and find other nearby historic sites of
interest — a particularly valuable feature in the history-rich area around
Richmond. With just a few clicks,
users can identify these destinations, learn about their visitor services and
even get directions from their current location.

“The Malvern Hill app will be great for
both our first-time visitors and seasoned Civil War enthusiasts,” said park
superintendent David Ruth. “We know
they’ll appreciate the ability to hear the stories in the places where they
happened, see videos of NPS Rangers giving talks, and to explore the battlefield
at their own pace.”

At each stop on the
GPS-guided tour, “virtual signs” contain a rich description of the historical
significance of the site, along with photos, video commentary from battlefield
experts and audio accounts from the soldiers and civilians who trod this ground
during the Civil War. “Pinch-zoom”
technology and customizable troop displays allow one to follow in the footsteps
of the two armies stood and to learn how their attacks and counterattacks
unfolded. In addition to providing
a wealth of location-based historical accounts, the Malvern Hill Battle App includes
resource material that will answer many questions that visitors to the
battlefield have. Complete orders
of battle for the two armies, a chronology of the battle, basic facts, an
interactive quiz, and a strategic overview are all a part of this rich
offering.

The Battle App series can be
easily downloaded from a mobile device via Apple’s App Store or the AndroidMarket. Once the basic app is
installed, users can then chose to fully download the audio and video elements
to their device or to have that media streamed to you as you visit the
different historical sites.

Thanks
in part to the support of the Virginia Department of Transportation, the Civil
War Trust is working to develop even more Battle App offerings in the coming
months and years. Next in the
development pipeline are Battle Apps for the Cedar Creek and Petersburg battlefields,
with further product improvements and expansions are constantly in development.

The July 1, 1862 Battle of Malvern
Hill was the final and climactic engagement of the Seven Days Battles. Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee, new to
command of the Army of Northern Virginia, had successfully ended the Union
threat to capital at Richmond and doggedly pursued the retreating Federals as
they made their way toward the safety of the James River and the Union
gunboats. After missing an
opportunity to strike a decisive blow at Glendale on June 30, Lee knew he had
once last chance to destroy his opponent before he reached the river. The Union had taken up a strong
defensive position atop Malvern Hill and the Confederate attackers launched a
series of disjointed assaults, only to be repulsed by the strength of Union
artillery. When darkness put an
end to fighting, Lee had suffered more than 5,600 casualties, compared to only
2,100 men removed from Union ranks.
The victory gave Union commanders the chance to complete their
withdrawal relatively unmolested.

The Malvern Hill Battlefield
is one of 13 units of Richmond National Battlefield Park. Last week, the National Park Service
unveiled an extensive renovation, including new educational exhibits, at its
Glendale Visitor Center, which covers the latter portion of the Seven Days
Battles, including the actions at both Glendale and Malvern Hill.

For more
information about the content, use and availability of GPS-enable Civil War
Trust Battle Apps, please visit www.civilwar.org/battleapps.

The Civil War Trust is the largest nonprofit
battlefield preservation organization in the United States. Its mission is to preserve our nation’s
endangered Civil War battlefields and to promote appreciation of these hallowed
grounds. To date, the Trust has
preserved more than 32,000 acres of battlefield land in 20 states, including
949 acres at Malvern Hill. Learn
more at www.civilwar.org,
the home of the Civil War sesquicentennial.